After improving to a 10-1 record with an easy victory over UMBC Saturday, the men’s basketball team continues to climb into the national spotlight.

The Colonials received 43 votes in the AP Top 25 poll Monday, sitting just behind the University of Texas, who recently upset North Carolina and the undefeated University of Toledo.

The ranking puts GW at No. 29 in the country – 26 votes shy of moving into the top 25.

The only other Atlantic 10 team to receive votes was UMass, who dropped to No. 23 after losing their first game of the season to Florida State Saturday.

GW’s impressive start has the team tied for their sixth best start in program history. The last time GW won 10 of its first 11 games was 1992-93.

Head coach Mike Lonergan and his team has the entire week to prepare for a tough holiday schedule with games against Hofstra (3-6) on Dec. 28 and Kansas State (8-3) Dec. 31. The matchups will give the Colonials their first true road tests of the season.

GW will then return to the Smith Center in 2014 where they will take on Georgia (6-4) on Jan. 3.